William s



Dec. 22, 1931. w s, MERGE Re. 18,296

PIPE COUPLING Original Filed Feb: 20, 1915 Reisaued Dec. 22, 1931 UNITEDSV'IJATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM S. PIERCE, OF FRANKLIN, PENNSYLVANIA,ASSIGNOR TO BARGO BRASS & I JOINT COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ACORPORATION OF ILLDTOIS PIPE COUPLING Originat No. 1,153,824, datedSeptember 14, 1915. Serial No. 9,741, filed. February 20, 1915.Application for reissue filed September 4, 1917. Serial No. 189,685.

The present invention relates .to pipe couplings, and consists moreparticularly in an improved pipe coupling especially designed forconnecting the flexible metallic conduits between the locomotive andtender, and between railway cars for conveying air, steam,

I water, or fluids, although I do not wish to be understood asrestricting the invention to this application alone.

It is an object of the present invention to produce a pipe coupling ofthis character wherein is provided an improved packing expansible underthe automatic action of the fluid pressure, and arranged with its basein communication with the atmosphere to prevent the accumulation ofpressur'etherebe neath, so asto render the packing ineffective.

A further object of the present invention resides in providing animproved pipe coupling wherein the parts will be few and simple andarranged for ready assembly to permit of quick repairs, as it isessential to avoid parts in the several views:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of an improvedpipe coupling constructed in accordance with the'present invention;

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the same;

Figure 3 is a bottom perspective view of the washer employed underpacking 10; and Figure 4 is a perspective view of a plug used inconnection with the invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 designates an elbowconstructed at either end with an externalshoulder 2, and threaded toreceive coupling nuts 3. Following the usual manner, the coupling nuts 3are provided with inturned flanges 4, coopcrating with complementalflanges 5 for connecting swivel sections 6, the same being enparatus.

larged and internally threaded to receive the train pipe, as will beunderstood. Interposed between the flanges 4 and 5 are rings 7 ofBabbitt metal or other material suitable for furnishing bearings uponwhich the flanges 5 of theswivel section 6 may freely revolve, and alsofurnishing secondary packings to prevent the escape of fluid should theprimary gaskets become disrupted, as her.e-,

inafter described. The inner ends of the swivel sections 6, above theflanges 5; are reduced, as advantageously shown in Figure 1, and arereceived at their inner ends in recesses formed in abutments 8 cast orotherwise produced in the elbow 1. In the annular chambers 9, formedbetween the reduced inner portions of the swivel sections 6 and outerwalls of the elbow 1 are fitted expansible gaskets 10 of any suitableconstruction, preferably of the type set forth more specifically in myco-pending application, Serial Number 870,650, filed November 6th, 1914,and entitled Improvements in washing ap- Figure 1 such gasket 10 isconstructed of suitable expansible material and formed with a V-shapedgroove 11, providing concentric divided walls 12 and 13 arranged toreceive and be expanded by the internal pressure of the conduits.

The annular chamber" 9 is placed in com municationwith the interior ofthe elbow 1 and conduits through series of perforations 14 and 15,provided respectively in the abutments and reduced inner portions of theswivel member 6. Such perforations 14 and 15 aflord free admittance ofthe fluid pressure into the chambers 9, wherein is located theexpansible gaskets 10; and the pressure is received into the V-shapedgrooves 11 thereof and'operates to expand the concentric divided walls12 and 13 to provide a tight joint between the swivel sections and elbowwalls, as will be apparent. Said perforations also form drains toprevent water from freezing in said chamber.

Beneath the expansible gaskets 10, in. the annular chambers 9, areplaced washers 16 supported on the flanges 5 of the swivel members 6,and illustrated more particularly in As advantageously disclosed inFigure3 to be provided with bevelled inner and outer lower edges 17'and'18, and traversed by radial channels 19 shown to be arranged indiametrically opposed pairs, although the same may be produced in anyother desired manner. 19 in the washers 16 are fitted opposite grooves20 formed in the outer ends of the elbow 1; the same being connected byan annular channel, preferably constituted by the screw threads21,which, as shown in Figure 1, are extended beneath the flanges 5 inthe swivel member 6. Thecoupling nuts 3 are provided with openings 22for placing the annular channel 21 in direct communication with theatmosphere, and the openings may be threaded, as indicated, forreceiving plugs 23, as shown in Figure 4, when the gasket 10 has beendisrupted, as hereinafter described.

It will be understood that the arrangement of radial channels 19 in thewasher 16, grooves 20, and screw threads 2l place the base of the gasket10 in direct communication with the atmosphere through the openings 22in the coupling nuts 3, and relieve all leakage of pressure about saidgaskets, and

prevent the accumulation of pressure beneath the same, so as to renderthe gaskets inefi'ective. It will thus be appreciated that the fulleffect of the pressure in the train pipe will be utilized to expand thewalls 12 and 13 of the gasket 10, and provide a tight joint between themembers of the coupling.

Provided the gaskets 10 give way, or become disrupted, during operation,so as to place the interior of the conduit in direct communication withthe atmosphere the pings '23 may be inserted in the threaded opemngs 22and prevent the escape of the fluid until such time as repairs may bemade.

It is to be understood that the gasket 10 is normally effective toprovide a tight joint, and the secondary packing 7' is inoperative. Incase of emergency, when the gasket 10 .is

disrupted or springs a leak, the plug 23, or

other suitable device, will be arranged to close the communication withthe atmosphere, and the secondary packing will thereupon becomeeffective andprevent leakage.

It is obvious that'those skilled in the art may vary the details ofconstruction and arrangement of parts Without departing from the spiritof my invention, and therefore I do not wish to be limited to suchfeatures explacing said passage in communication with i The radialchannels.

the atmosphere, an expansible gasket located in said coupling andarranged with its base in communication with said grooves, and a plugfor insertion in the opening in said coupling collar to closecommunication with the atmosphere, substantially as described.

2. In a pipe coupling, the combination of pipe sections providing achamber adapted to be arranged in communication with the atmosphere, agasket located in said chamber, and a washer arranged beneath saidgasket and provided with transverse channels for conducting away leakageabout said gasket to the atmosphere, substantially as described.

mosphere, a gasket mounted in said chamber,

a Washer located beneath said gasket and provided with a plurality oftransverse openings leading to said passage for conveying away leakage,and means for closing atmospheric communication, substantially asdescribed.

5. In a pipe coupling, the combination of a pair of pipe sections formedone with transverse grooves therein, means for connecting said sectionstogether, and provided with a passage connecting said grooves,.and anopening for placing said passage in communication with the atmosphere, aplug for closing said opening, a gasket mounted between said pipesections, and a washer located beneath said gasket and provided with aplurality of tra sverse channels registering with the grooves in saidpipe section for conveying away leakage, substantially as described.

6. In a pipe coupling, the combination of a pair of pipe sectionsproviding a chamber therebetween in communication with the interiorthereof, and formed one With a plurality of transverse grooves incommunication with said chamber, an expansible gasket mounted in saidchamber, a washer located beneath said gasketand provided with a plu-IQO rality of transverse channels registering with the grooves in saidpipe section, a coupling nut provided with a passage connecting saidgrooves and an opening placing said passage in communication with theatmosphere, and a-removable plug adapted to be inserted in the openingin said coupling nut for closing atmospheric communication,substantially as described.

7. In a pipe coupling, the combination of an elbow provided withtransversely grooved ends, a perforated end shouldered abutment in saidelbow, a swivel pipe section received into said elbow and fitted againstthe shoulder provided by said abutment, a flange on said swivel sectionfor engaging the grooved end of said elbow, an expansible gasketarranged between said elbow and swivel section with its base incommunication with said grooves, a coupling nut provided with a passageconnecting said grooves and an opening placing said passa e incommunicationwith the atmosphere, a ange on said coupling nut, asecondary packing mounted between said flanges, and means for closingthe opening in said coupling nut when said gasket is disrupted toprevent leakage and bring said secondary packing into action,substantially as described.

8. In a pipe coupling, the combination of an elbow provided withtransversely grooved 4 abutments and providin ends, perforated andshouldered abutments in said elbow, swivel pipe sections provided withreduced and perforated inner portions fitted to revolve against theshoulders of said with the ends of said elbow annular cham rs incommunication with the'fluid through said perforations,

flanges formed on said swivel sections engaging the grooved ends of saidelbow and pro-'' viding bases for said chambers, expansible gasketsmounted in said chambers, annular washers mounted to rest on saidflanges and supporting said expansible gaskets, said washers beingprovided with transverse under channels registering with the grooves insaid elbow ends, coupling nuts for connectin said elbow and swivelsections and provi ed with annular passages connecting the said groovesand openings incommunication with the atmosphere, flanges on saidcoupling nuts, secondary packings located between said flanges, andplugs forclosing the openings in said coupling nuts,'substantially asdescribed.

9. In a pipe coupling,

adjacent pipe sections providing therebe-' tween a chamber incommunication with the atmosphere, an expansible gasket located in saidchamber, a coupling collar, a secondary packing mounted between saidcoupling collar and one of said pipe sections, and means for closingcommunication from said chamber to the atmosphere when the gasketbecomes disrupted to prevent leakage andbring said secondary packinginto play, substantially asdescribed.

10. In a pipe couplingythe combination of a pair of pipe sections, anexpansiblepacking locate freely exposed to pressure within the .cou-

pling and its outer end in free communication with the atmosphere, andmeans for closing communication between the outer end of the packing andthe atmosphere.

the combination of 11. In a pipe coupling, the combination of a pair ofpipe sections, an expansible packing located therebetween with its innerend free ly exposed to pressure within the coupling and its outer end infree communication with the atmosphere, means for closing communicationbetween the outer end of said packing and the atmosphere, and a secondpacking between the pipe section spaced from the first packing andconstituting a barrier to leaktherebetween with its inner end III

